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1.0 Introduction
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Broadsides is a tactical simulation of ship-to-ship combat betweeen sailing ships of the Napoleonic era (late 18th and early 19th century). Taking the helm of the sailing ship of your choice, you will match yourself against another ship commanded by the computer or by a human opponent. To be victorious you may use various types of ammunition for your cannons, or you may attempt to board the other ship and engage in close combat using swords and muskets.
1.1 LOADING THE PROGRAM
Put the disk in your disk drive and turn your computer on (remove all cartridges on the Atari).
1.2 STOPPING THE GAME
TEMPORARILY
AND RESTARTING
THE GAME
Hit the escape key (ESC) to temporarily stop the game while playing. Hit the escape key again to resume play. Hit ctrl-R (hold the control key and hit the 'R' key) to restart the game.
1.3 SOUND ON AND SOUND OFF
During a game players may turn the sound on or off by typing ctrl-S.
1.4 ARCADE VS. TACTICAL LEVELS OF PLAY
Two very different types of games can be played using the Broadsides disk. The 'arcade' type of game offers fast and exciting action, with fewer decisions to make. Those preferring a more thoughtful game with more options should
choose the 'tactical' type of game. If you are playing the 'arcade' game against the computer and you win, you can choose to continue the game with the computer receiving a new ship (this option not available in the Atari version), or you can accept your victory and start a new game. The choice of arcade vs.
tacticaI is made on the first selection page after the game is loaded In the arcade game only solid shot is used for
ammunition and your guns will always do double damage against the enemy.
1.5 TALKING TO THE
COMPUTER WHILE
SAILING
The command line for each ship appears directly below the name of the ship on the right third of the screen. Commands are displayed in the following order: (1) TURN TO PORT, (2) FASTER SPEED, (3) STEADY SPEED, (4) SLOWER SPEED, (5) BACK SAIL, (6) BATTLE SAIL, (7) FULL SAIL, (8) SOLID SHOT, (9) CHAIN SHOT, (10) GRAPE SHOT, (11) AIM AT SAILS, (12) AIM AT HULL, (13) FIRE XXXX YARDS (low range), (14) FIRE XXXX YARDS (mid
range), (15) FIRE XXXX YARDS (high range), and (16) TURN TO STRB. (Fewer commands are available for the arcade game.) When a command is accepted, the computer will respond by flashing the message 'AYE, AYE, SIR' on the command line.
USING THE PADDLES
(Apple version only)
Paddle number 1 refers to the violet ship on the top right third of the screen. Paddle number 2 refers to the green ship which is displayed on the bottom right third of the screen. On the left two-thirds of the screen, the ships are
distinguished by their colors, green and violet. Different commands are displayed on the command line by turning the paddle to the right or to the left. The first command (TURN TO PORT) is displayed when the paddle is turned all the way to the left, and the last command (TURN TO STRB) is displayed when the paddle is turned all the way to the right. A command is executed by first displaying it on the command line and then pressing the paddle button.
The program will have you 'set' the paddles to allow for paddles that are not calibrated exactly. If the paddles are too much in error, the program will continue to ask you to set the paddles.
USING THE JOYPORT
(Apple version only)
This game can be played using the Sirius Joyport together with an Atari foystick. Push the joystick to the left to
display a lower numbered command (see section 1.4). Push the joystick to the right to display a higher numbered command. Press the button to execute the displayed command.
USING THE JOYSTICK
(Atari version only)
Joystick number 1 refers to the dark ship, on the top right third of the screen. Joystick number 2 refers to the light ship, which is displayed on the bottom right third of the screen. On the left two-thirds of the screen, the ships are distinguished by their respective shades, dark and light. Ship 1 is dark and ship 2 is light. Different commands are displayed on the commandline by turning the joystick to the right or to the left. A command is executed by first displaying it on the command line and then pressing the joystick button.
USING THE KEYBOARD
The keys below are used to select commands with the keyboard option:
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COMMAND
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APPLE II & II+
SHIP 1
(Violet) |
SHIP 2
(Green)
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APPLE IIe
SHIP 1
(Violet) |
SHIP 2
(Green)
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ATARI
SHIP 1
(Light) |
SHIP 2
(Dark)
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Display next lower numbered command
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Display next higher numbered command
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Execute displayed command
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1.6 TALKING TO THE COMPUTER WHILE BOARDING
Only the keyboard can be used to phase. A summary of the commands give commands during the boarding follows:
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COMMAND
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APPLE II & II+
SHIP 1
(Violet) |
SHIP 2
(Green)
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APPLE IIe
SHIP 1
(Violet) |
SHIP 2
(Green)
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ATARI
SHIP 1
(Light) |
SHIP 2
(Dark)
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| SWORDFIGHTER MOVEMENTS: |
| Move right |
| Move left |
| Counter-thrust |
| Thrust |
| Hack |
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| SNIPER AIM AND FIRE AT: |
| Other snipers |
| Enemy on other deck |
| Enemy on own deck |
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1.7 DESCRIPTION OF ACTION
Game time is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Since this is a simulation, you will notice that time moves faster than reality. The game starts at 6:00:00 AM. The game automatically ends in a draw at 6 PM if neither player has achieved a victory by that time. Use the clock to estimate when your ship will turn or load its cannons after you have given the command. (A certain amount of time is needed to carry out a load command or a turn command. This time delay can be adjusted on the variables pages.)
The play of the game is real-time. As soon as the space bar (START key on the Atari) is hit to start the game, be ready to start playing. The play is not turn-oriented, and both players can issue commands at the same time. Play starts on the sailing screen, and if the ships collide, play will switch to the boarding screen. To disengage from boardin& and resume on the sailing screen, your sword-fighting character must be positioned behind the grating on his ship. (See boarding screen picture and explanation.) You will then see the grapples between the ships being cut. Shortly after the last one is cut, the ships will disengage and return to the sailing screen.
1.8 SETTING THE PACE
Players may adjust the speed of the game. The computer will ask you to set the pace of the game just prior to the start of each game. Enter a value between 0 and 9, with low numbers (0, 1, 2) representing the fastest paces and high numbers (7,8,9) representing the slowest paces. Players are advised to begin with slow paced games (this will allow you more time to think about your plan of action) and progress to faster paced games as you become familiar with the game. Players may change the pace setting during a game by first typing ctrl-Q (ESCAPE on the Atari) and then entering the new pace level (0-9, or space bar to keep the current setting). On the Atari, hit the ESCAPE key again to restart the game. Players may wish to use the ability to change the pace during a game as a valid tactic (if both players agree).
1.9 CHANGING MODES
Players may switch back and forth between their paddles, joyport, and keyboard while a game is in progress. The ctrl-K key will activate the keyboard, ctrl-P will activate the paddles (Apple only), shift-ctrl-P will activate the joyport (Apple only), and ctrl-J will activate the joystick (Atari only).
html-ized by Dan Vernon -- May 2002
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